Saturday, 18 June 2011

Harking back to the original tradition of bands having unique adverts drafted up for each specific gig, Tom Vek asked 5 illustrator/graphic artist friends to design a poster for his 5 UK shows. Tom wrote down the 5 names of both the artists and city venues, tore up the paper and put the tickets in a hat to delegate a random outcome of pairing the place to the person. The A3 artworks were printed using the Risograph technique at Ditto Press on Shacklewell lane, just round the corner from both of our studios. Using this process in place of screen printing meant that a restricted colour palette has resulted in the disparate designs appearing as a distinctive harmonious collection. The limited run of 100 per piece have been sold at each show with the final remaining concert happening tonight in Brighton. Tom completed his first album whilst studying Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins where his network of contemporaries have all followed suit to become successful talents practising today. Luckily this means he has an immediate resource to tap for collaborations on the visual side of his musical enterprise which came together neatly for this particular offshoot venture. The mouse drawing for Thursdays headline show at London's heaven is by Ferry Gouw who is also known for the art direction of Mad Decent - most notably the comic strip style for Major Lazer. Ive included Ferry's video for Tom's first release from “Leisure Seizure” here which was put together as an ode to the genre of boy-racers who like to see their girls hair fly from the sheer amplification of car soundsystems! It was a concept the two worked on closely together in the edit to execute a tight coreography of hair flicking to the strong beat element of the track. Its this attention to detail that marks Vek's identity ........... also taken thru to the composition of live visuals which he has constructed with a cross beam projector to match the colour of the lights to the rest of his palette. If you missed this condensed run of dates, be sure to check his tour diary to catch the next slots at festivals and cities internationally over the summer.Any posters left over from sales at these select dates will be appearing online in due course..........

Friday, 17 June 2011

'Bortusk Took a Trip' is the first solo show by UK artist Bortusk Leer. Bortusk has been spreading his rainbow tinged vision on the streets of New York and London since 2007, creating monsters that shine a bit of colour into the dark corners of the cities. Pasted over newspapers, naturally. Bortusk's work is explored over a variation of mediums, with knitwear, painting, sculpture, not to mention crawling across the floors and walls in vivid and UV hues.

The exhibition presents a peek into the carefree and colourful days of childhood, with the intention to 'put a smile on your face and brighten up your day'.

Thursday, 16 June 2011

Jason Evans a.k.a The Man From The Daily Nice asked me to take part in a string of guest tutor slots to students on "Photography for Fashion and Advertising at University of Wales, Newport". I spent the day starting with an introduction into my world of prop styling and bespoke accessories to give insight into this facet of the industry. We then concluded the experience with a hands-on workshop for some first hand experience of how tricky it is to pull a rabbit out of a hat when under constraints of limited materials and time. It was great fun and in addition to the colour created in class, I couldn't help snap some of the random hazard tape markings around the art school which looked like Jason might have been responsible for!!! Here is his own collection of Japanese work-men helmets which are not only an incredible facet sculpture shape but a cosmic palette of colours. Here is also a recent example of album artwork executed in Evans signature aptitude and sensitivity of treating and arranging colour. Jason art directed and shot this latest release for The Wild Beasts which is a glorious follow up to the beautiful artwork for Four Tet last year. Keep a look out for posters appearing from the Arctic Monkeys to see yet more of his masterful imagery for music .............

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Here's something I picked up recently, purely on the merit of the cosmic applique. It was a giant denim jacket that Ive taken in to fit over my threeASFOUR denim suit. I'm really looking forward to blinging it up a bit more with extra studs............ perhaps something along the lines of the YSL pin badge covered number I wrote about for AnOther..........

For the last few months I have been working with bespoke bike engineer "Super Ted" to design a unique frame for Shingai Shoniwa to complete a sponsored 72 mile ride from London to Brighton. Shingai set out on the challenge to raise money for her mother's own Breast Cancer charity and asked Nike to get on board to help her with a training program that could fit into her busy summer festival season schedule. With a personal trainer and use of a synched app, she has been fitting in work-out sessions inbetween rehearsals. All the while, Ted and I have been constructing her a tailor made bike to practice and be comfortable for the final journey! From her measurements, specifications and wishlist of design ideas, we collaborated to conjure up a dream machine. Film maker Grace Ladoja has been documenting the whole process (of which you can see the first installment here) so I wanted to make the paint effect shimmer as Shingai would be filmed cycling in the sun. It turned out that she was already thinking about Gold, as if she had won the golden ticket like Charlie in The Chocolate Factory. I interpreted her vision for Leopard print in a vinyl cut-out effect and scanned her heart signature for Ted to weld into the frame. He then made holes throughout the body for me to weave yarn in a cat's cradle to replicate the string-art that Shingai and I loved from our childhoods to evoke that nostalgic "Cities Of Gold" vibe!! Since completing the bike, I have sewn a special bike helmet to match, so check back to find out how the ride goes and how she looks on the wheels of steel.................

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

I'm going to see Prince play in July and need to be suitably attired in a Prince related T-Shirt and specially for the occasion I have discovered "Dirty Mind" by Ted Pearce. This illustration is part of Ted Draws triptych Spring collection alongside Raekwon & Madonna. You can visit WAH Nails to see the tees or buy them online which I did ............. and received some unexpected bonus material ......... including an original drawing, penned onto a CV! I really love the Madonna illustration - I bet the girls at Vogue would too!

Sunday, 12 June 2011

Alongside the Elle Launchpad award from the BFC, is New Gen sponsored by Top Shop which funds 17 emerging designers to exhibit at London Fashion Week. This season's winners were announced earlier in the week, with Craig Lawrence receiving a slot for a presentation for the third season running. Here are snaps from one of my recent visits to Craig's new digs which show details of production from his A/W collection, demonstrated to full effect by Daisy Lowe at last months BAFTA awards!! These pieces have just been bought in by West London's newest boutique "The Village Bicycle", so you too can get your mitts on Craig's knits!Craig and I no longer share studios but do still hold court together in one house - in the form of our magnificent representatives Ella Dror PR - who have just uploaded their website - click over to check out who else is on the books.............. here.

Its A London Thing

My book out on September 19th

'Multi-talented Fred Butler is quite the east London renaissance girl, with fingers in so many creative pies that they're difficult to tick off.

Of course, there are the splendidly exuberant accessories, wearable sculptures whose sparkle has attracted fashion magpies such as Gaga, Bjork and Nicki Minaj. But there is also custom made prop styling, art directing and film making.